The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-04-09

HIv Oh IS.cHnonu, StepnauAe louuu
Nisg herself at length. 1t smiled up
es8Sf ,en,icingly, in its setting of ten
der emerald under genial sun, but
she was afraid OF 1t, and shrauk from
the work before her. She found the
brethren Of the pre- IS, polite enough, aud
gallant enough in intention, but too
busy to serve her. II had been that way
in LynchburS. The vely remembrance
of that up-and-down city, In which
one must be fashioned, with one leg
longer than the other in order to stand
level, as some wag has said, brought
hot tears Of modification to her eyes.
Her experience therein was not
pleasant reflection.
She acknowledged to herself, on the
second morning of her arrival, as she
stood at her window watching defect
edly the gay stream of humanity going
aud coming, that her hitherto dauniless
spirii:: VAS wavering. She was nervous
and blue, anu cuihf !e'aly unhinged.
She saw, with listIess eyes, the hotel
buss rattle up to the entrance and dis
gorge. First, drummer, there was
no misaking the easy air Of assurance,
and donhomic, anymore than the sam.
Pile case which he was not ashamed to
handle then followed nervous young
woman Of provincial cut; an elderly
gentleman with gold eyeglasses, and
the pomposity of a banker; and then
small and graceful figure in jaunty
travelling suit, with satchel strapped
across her shoulder. Stephanie could
not see her face, but there was some-
thing familiar in her brisk and careless
| air.
| 1t was not many minutes until there
was tap at her door. With sudden
thrill of unaccouu,able expectancy, she
threw it open.
ga young lady to see you, Miss" F"
announced the boy, and withdrew. Be-
fore her with great, delighted dancing
eyes stood the young lady Of the pretty
travelling suit and satchel.
"Peg"
"Steph -
When the first rapture of meeting
was over, Stephanie brushed the tears
of JOY from her eyes, and found her
voice to ask:
"How, Peg -Aow did you come
here?"
"By rail, my DEAR" promptly replied
this lively faced young lady. "Please
do not question that. l confess 1've
been in some pretty tight places since
following your illustrious example and
turning Bohemian, but I've never had
to walk yet. What tho future has in
store for me, l may not say"
She dropped her badgering tone and
gave her friends small hand an affec-
tiona:e squeeze.
s'But / know you are puzzled and
anxious TO know all about it. The story
ruuneth thus: A week or two after
your departure / conceived desire 10
follow in your footsteps. ] applied to
: the editor OF the South and in less than
no time / was making my way into
Tennessee aud Kentucky. / heard tina,
you were here, and, rs ! had finished
my work in those States / took 1t upon
myself 10 come to see YOU"
"And, oh, am 80 delighted! But
what 'ciU the Colonel say, Peg: He'll
discharge you"
.sNo, he wont; for pve already dis
charged myself. My resignation is al
the Office by this time. L can make a
living by giving music lessons. It's a
hard life, L know, but this is worse.
don't like i.--I hate it," with fierce
disgust.
"But, why, Peggy? think il is no,
s, bad; it is even delightful-some'
| times" with an after thought, and 0
grimmace,
"WeIi, you see IT is different witt
you, Steph, with your gentle and per.
suasive way. You have only TO loob
at one. A man who can Withstand
your eyes is brute. Now II l had
SUCH eyes, and such voice, ant
smile--''-.
; Stepbanie lifted deprecating hand
while her one dimp!e played hide and
, seek in her blushing cheek.
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